Lubricator.



No. 68|,639- Patented Aug. 27, |90l. C. B. HUDGES.

LUBRICATUB'.

(Application filed June 24, 1896.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 68|,639- Patented Aug. 27, |90l. C. B. HODGES.

LUBRIGATOR.

(Application filed June 24, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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No. esmas, Patented Aug. 27, |901.

c. Houses.

LUBRICATUR.

(Application tiled June 24, 1896.) (No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

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Patented Aug. 27, |90I. C. B. HODGES. 1

LUBRICATOH.

(Applicatvn filed June 24, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Il/YZWESSES (i IAf'/EVTO? w Q. M714 @W V/@MLTLJ WENORRIB PETERS 0C)v4 FHDTQ-LITHO.. WAHINGYON. Ily G No. 681,639. Patented Aug. 27, lem.. c. s. Houses.

LUBRICATOR.

(Application led .Tune 24, 1896.)

(no Model.) 5 sheets-sheet s.

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w "2% 2?; m @e *O u IHF 11m D WI T NESSES IN VE N TOR Attorneys.

llNrTn STATES PATENT QFFICE.

CLARENCE B. IIODGES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LUBRICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 681,639, dated August 27, 1901. Application iiled .Tune 24, 1896. Serial No. 596,758. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLARENCE B. HoDGEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Lubricators; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

rlhis invention relates to lubricators, and has for its object primarily improvements in that class of lubrieators which are intended to be used in connection with locomotives where the lubricating-oil rises from au oilreceptacle through a column of Water into the steam-pipe (technically called the tallowpipe) and leads thence to the place where the lubricant is to be employed. A locomotive-engine requires a supply of oil that shall be practically constant and regular so long as the piston is moving, Whether the cylinder be taking steam or not. Locomotive-engines are run under varying supplies of steam and sometimes with no supply of steam Whatever-as, for example, when on a downgrade. Previous to myinvention the balanced condensation displacement lubricator has been for some time used, and this character of lubricator is intended to deliver from the oil-cup a regular supply of oil that is forced out from the top by the condensation of steam into water which collects under the oil in an oil-cup. The contents of the oil-cup is balanced by equalizing-pipes, and these are employed to overcome a difliculty which arises from fluctuations of back pressure in the talloW-pipe. After the lubricator balanced by equalizingpipes came into use it was found that equalizing-pipes were not of themselves sufficient to entirely overcome the tendency to produce an irregular feed of oil and at times to siphon out or draw out the contents of the oil-cup too rapidly, and the feature of a choked passage on the cylinder side of the equalizing-pipes was added. This choked passage while it overcame one difficulty introduced a new trouble, as it was found that although the oil now moved with sufficient regularity from the oil-cup through the choked passage it did not travel forward to the cylinder properly, but frequently accumulated in the pipe during the time while the cylinder was taking steam, and the accumulated mass of oil was discharged into the cylinder when the engine was at rest and the throttle shut off at a time when the engine did not need lubrication. My invention is intended to overcome the difficulty arising from this cause.

I conveniently employ a balanced lubricator, with either external or internal equalizing-pipes, either such a one as is described in Patent No. 291,847, issued to myself and C. I-I. Hodges, January 8, 1884, or in Patent No. 308,258, issued to myself and E. McCoy, November 18, 1884, and I use in the lubricator which I employ a passage-Way of small diameter or choked passage, which is located between the oil-reservoir and the talloW pipe, through which steam from the equalizingpipe and oil from the reservoir pass on their Way to the talloW-pipe. The oil is forced through this choked passage by the steam from the equalizing-pipe and after escaping from the choked passage is carried forward by an auxiliary supply of steam that is arranged to iiow While the throttlel is open and is arranged to be checked when the throttle is closed and the cylinder therefore not taking steam, and consequently there is no longer back pressure to prevent the proper action of the small fiow of steam through the choked passage.

My invention then is found in a device using a passage for a flow of steam which serves to take the oil after ithas passed from the reservoir and carry it against back pressure to the cylinder of the engine and means to close the passage, and thus control the flow of this auxiliary steam, so that it may flow when the cylinder is taking steam and cease to flow when the cylinder ceases to take steam.

In carrying out the invention I introduce into the structure a means actuated by steampressure to shut off or control the auxiliary supply of steam necessary to produce the desired feed,leaving,ho\vever, the small choked passage constantly open, so that lubrication of the engine shall notA cease at times While the piston is moving taking steam.

but the cylinder is not IOS In the drawings, Figure 1 shows the upper portion of the lubricator and the outside connections therewith. Parts of this drawing are iu section. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section at the line y y of Fig. l. `Fig. 3 is a diagram showing the relative arrangement of some of Athe pipes and passage-ways inside the casing of the lubricator. Fig. 4 is a vertical section through the lubricator at the line .fr of Fig. 2. This figure shows the equalizing-pipe and the discharge-nozzle, which is used in connection with the oil-conduit leading to the airbrake. The equalizing-pipe of this figure rises on the inside of the condenser. Figs. 5, 6,' 7, and 8 are details showing the construction of the automatic controlling-valve, the casing of which is seen at A in Fig. 1. Fig. 9 shows a variation in the location of the pipe through which the auxiliary supply of steam is carried. Fig. l0 is an elevation of the pipe connections with the valve-casing 24 of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a lubricator with external equalizingpipes, and it shows also a pipe for auxiliary steam and a controlling valve connected therewith.

2 in Fig. l indicates a steam-pipe leading from the boiler, and 3 3 of Fig. 2 indicates the tallow-pipes leading to the cylinders on opposite'sides of the locomotive, and 3b indicates the oil-feed pipe, leading to the enginecylinder of the air-brake.

The oil-reservoir F. contains the oil and the water of condensation which accumulates in the condenser F and drops by gravity from there through passages 50 and 51,(seen in Fig. 4) into the reservoir E. The accumulating water lifts the oil always to the top of the reservoir, whence it is fed in the way usual in this class of lubricators through inverted- U -shaped tubes to the various pipes that lead to the workingparts to be lubricated. Such U-shaped tube can be seen in Patent No. 322,291. Each of the U-shaped tubes has one branch within the cup and one branch outside of the cup, and the outside branch in each case is in part composed of a glass sight feedtube through which observation can be made to determine whether the oil is feeding properly. The position of these sight-tubes is indicated at g g2 g3. Of these the passage through the tube at g3, through the pipe g4, and through the constricted passage 3b is substantially the same as that heretofore in common use. With respect to this passage the oil in the cup is in a balanced condition between the steam from the pipe 2, which enters the condensing-chamber at the top thereof, and the back pressure through the choked passage 3b and the constant pressure of the steam passing through the equalizing-pipe b3. The tittings G' Gr2 are, however, constructed to be used in carrying out my invention and contain features not found in the parts just described. Inasmuch as they are exactly similar, a description of one will su ffice for both, premising that the steam that enters at the rear or on the oil-cup side of the constricted passage C traverses pipe S and the steam that enters at the rear of the restricted passage C traverses the equalizing pipe S2 and that the steam traversing the equaliZing-pipes S Yand S2 comes from the common supply-pipe 2. From the pipe S a passage if', constructed in the wall of the cup, leads into the iitting G', where it communicates with a passage t3 in the fitting and is continued to the end of the restricted passage C, into which it leads on the oil-cup side of the nipple, and is continued through the nipple between the wings of the winged guide of the valve d, the passage through the nipple being the contracted or constricted passage hereinbefore spoken of. This constricted passage opens into the larger pipe, that goes directly to the cylinder and which has been called herein the tallow-pipe7 3. From the head2apipe a,external to the condenser, leads downward to the oil-cup and divides. One branch a2 communicates witha passage b', that leads to the Iitting G, and another branch a3 communicates with a passage b2 and leads to the fitting G2. The passage in the branch b is continued through the fitting G' and terminates in a chamber c', which is on the fallow-pipe side of the engagement between the nipple C and the fitting, but is behind the extreme end of the nipple C, and from the chamber there is free communication around the nipple to the tallowpipe. The passage leading from h2 to the f1tting G2 and to the tallow-pipe 3a is of similar construction. It has not been found necessary to make this same provision for a passage-way for auxiliary steam from the pipe 2 to the pipe 3b which leads to the air-brake, but a similar provision could be made for it if it were found desirable. In order that the steam entering the fallow-pipes 3 and 3 from the pipe 2 through the passage mentioned may be automatically closed off when the steam to the cylinders is throttled, I interpose at A in the pipe a a'double acting Valve, which is shown in detail in Figs. 5, (i, 7, and 8. In the lower part of the casing A is a large valve-actuating piston d, through which there is a hole. This piston cl is a differential pistion having two heads, one of which is larger than the other. The larger head d iits in a chamber e and the smaller head d2 ts in a chamber c', which is smaller in diameter than the chamber e. The live steam coming direct from the boiler engages with the face of the smaller head d2 of the piston, while the reacting force from the steam in the cylinder or tallow-pipe is exerted against the larger face of the head d. Vhere the chamber eopens out of the chamber e there is a relief passage-way f, so that the piston is unbalanced by reason of the differential faces exposed to the two steam forces and by reason of the relief-valve f, which relieves the one side of the piston from all pressure on a zone equal to the difference in diameter of the two heads of the piston. Above the pis- IOO IIO

senese ton d and. engaging over the opening cl3, that passes through it, is a valve 7i., the stem ot which extends into the neck between the valve-seat 7i and the face 7b2, against which the upper or smaller face (Z2 ot the piston d is adapted to engage. The siem of the valve 7L is hollow and is provided with a passageway into it below the head h3, which is closed as the valve is forced downward. So long as the steam is passing freely to the cylinder the large piston d is driven upward by the excess of pressure on its large face, lifts the valve 7i, and furnishes an unimpeded passage through the stem and through the hole in the piston; but as soon as the throttle is closed the back pressure from the cylinder ceases, while the pressure from the opposite direction from the boiler continues. This pressure drives the piston d and the valve 7i downward, the valve h closes against the seat 7L', and the flow of the steam ceases.

rIhe form of structure shown in Figs. l. to 4, inclusive, is the preferred form for a lubricator complete in itself; but the same principle may be applied in connection with lubricators that have been made, but in which provision was not made for the use of steam in the way herein described. By the construction of the valve and its actuating-piston as shown and described it will be seen that, in effect, a differential valve is produced, the purpose of separating the valve from the piston being largelyto facilitate assembling and positioning of the parts.

As shown in Fig. 9, an ordinary lubricator (the lubricator shown in this tigure is not provided with external equalizing-pipes) communicates with the cylinder and boiler through the tallow-pipe 2l and the steampipe 22, and an auxiliary pipe 23, provided With the automatic or steam-actuated valve in casing 24, is arranged to deliver steam into the tallow-pipe 2l between the lubricator and the cylinder. In this form the steam which acts to open the valve 24 is in a circuit of which the tallow-pipe forms one part, and it is not material where in this circuit the controlling-valve be placed.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with a lubricator provided with suitable ports and passage-ways, whereby the oil in the lubricator is balanced by steam-pressure, an oil-conducting pipe, a nozzle adapted to deliver the oil from the cup into the conducting-pipe, an auxiliary steampassage leading from the boiler and adapted to deliver a second supply of steam into the oil-conducting pipe in front of the nozzle and between the nozzle and the cylinder, and means interposed in said auxiliary passageway whereby the flow of steam is shut off when the main throttle is closed, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a lubricator, provided with suitable pipes and passage-ways whereby the contents of the lubricator are balanced between opposing forces, a tallowpipe, an auxiliary steam passage-way adapted to furnish an auxiliary supply of steam to carry forward the lubricating-oil escaping from the oil-cup ot' the lubricator, and an automatically-actuated valve arranged to close said auxiliary passage, and to control steam passing therethrough, substantially as described.

In combination with a lubricator, provided with suitable pipes and passage-ways whereby the contents of the lubricator are balanced between opposing forces, a tallowpipe, a passage-way through which au auxiliary supply ot' steam passes, and an unbalanced steam-actuated valve arranged to control the steam employed to carry the oil from the lubricator to the cylinder, properly located to close the passage-way through which an auxiliary supply of steam passes from the boiler to and from the tallow-pipe, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a lubricator provided with suitable pipes and passage-ways, whereby the contents of the lubricator are balanced between opposing forces, a tallowpipe, an auxiliary steam passage-Way, an unbalanced valve arranged to control the auX- iliary steam and to be actuated in a closing direction by steam on its boiler side, and in an opening direction by back pressure from the cylinder, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a lubricator provided with suitable ports and passage-ways, connections leading thereto from the boiler, and connections leading therefrom to the talloW-pipe, an auxiliary steam-passage, a valve arranged to control the auxiliary steam and to be actuated to both open and close by the steam, having a case that is provided with a relief-opening on 'one side, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a lubricator provided with suitable pipes and passages whereby the contents thereof are balanced between opposing forces, a tallow-pipe arranged to communicate with the lubricator and with the steam-pipe which produces balance thereof, a restricted constantly open passage, a passage for producing in the tallow-pipe'an increased iiow of steam beyond that allowed by the restricted passage, and means actuated by variation ot pressure for governing the increased flow of steam, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a lubricator provided with suitable pipes and passages wherebythe contents thereof are balanced between opposing forces, a talloW-pipe arranged to communicate with the lubricator and with the steam-pi pe which produces balance thereof, a restricted constantly open passage, a passage for producing in the tallow-pipe an increased low of steam beyond that allowed by the restricted passage, and an automatic valve actuated by variation of pressure, for govern- IOO IIO

ing the increased iow of steam, substantially as described.

8. The combination with a lubricator provided with suitable pipes and passages Whereby the contents thereof are balanced between the opposing forces, of an auxiliary passage adapted vto supply an auxiliary supply of steam to carry forward the lubricant, and a Valve arranged to be actuated by back pressure for controlling the movement of steam through the auxiliary passage, substantially as described.

9. In abalanced lubricator the combination of an oil-cup, an oil-delivery pipe, a port or passage for permitting an uninterrupted flow of steam into the oil-delivery pipe, a port or v-passage for permitting an increased flow of steam into `the oil-delivery pipe and means serving to close the port or passage through which the increased flow of steam passes, brought into action by the establishment of a preponderance of'pressure on the boiler side thereof.

10. In combination With a lubricator, provided with suitable pipes and passage-Ways whereby the contents of the lubricator are balanced between opposing forces, a tallowpipe, a passage-Way through which an auxiliary supply of steam passes, and a Valve arranged to be actuated automatically to control the steam employed to carry the oil from the lubricator to the cylinder, properly located to close the passage-Way through which an auxiliary supply of steam passes from the boiler to and from the talloW-pipe, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specilication in the presence of two Witnesses.

CLARENCE B. HODGES.

Witnesses:

CHARLES F. BURTON, VIRGINIA M. OLoUGII. 

